New Zealand and Vanuatu will continue to enhance and collaborate on issues of mutual interest such as climate change and law and order.
Speaking to media and dignitaries during the Pacific mission, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says, “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu.”
During the visit, Minister Peters and his delegation met with Vanuatu’s President, Prime Minister, and other cabinet members.
Mr Peters says, “re-connecting with Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and his government was an opportunity to reflect on changes since we last met in 2018 and to reiterate our shared commitment to building Vanuatu’s resilience.”
Peters announced a new flexible climate finance commitment and an extension of support to the Vanuatu Police Force.
“These two initiatives demonstrate the innovative ways New Zealand is looking to support Vanuatu’s climate resilience, as well as the close cooperation that many New Zealand agencies, such as New Zealand Police, have in Vanuatu.”
Continuing to strengthen climate cooperation between the two countries, New Zealand will provide NZ$8 million (570 million vatu) for Vanuatu to support the country’s response more effectively to the increasing effects of climate change.
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts visited the village of Pago 20 mins from the capital of Vanuatu and was taken back by what he saw.
“One of the cemeteries it’s right on the seashore here at high tide and during storms waves come over and literally come and swamp this cemetery and push everything back out to sea,” Watts says.
Vanuatu Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu says the relationship between New Zealand is an important one.
“It was good to really talk about the experiences in our countries and how we have different experiences of climate change impacts and response but also a lot of similarities and how we can learn from each other.”
The delegation will travel to Tuvalu for the last leg of the NZ mission.
